MK Tiana's Bayou Adventure - latest details and construction progress

[Stripes]

Spoiler: Alternate POV not made by Disney

New POV shared on Youtube by someone at a preview. Much better video than Disney produced, shot during the day, and all of the speaking lines appear to be the alternate set. Dare I say it works better? I wasn't a hater but this at least looks a little better than the first video we've all seen.

Looks like a great attraction and pretty much what I expected. The Louisiana bayou at night theme is gorgeous and I expect it’ll look even better in person. I don’t quite understand some of the criticism. Like the criticism that it’s too barren and lacks enough animatronics. There are more than enough animatronics and animated figures to tell the story and the sets are far more beautiful than what Splash had which were highly saturated and cheap/fake looking. In fact, some of my favorite parts of the ride are where there‘s not a lot of movement and we’re just taking in the sets and getting more immersed in the bayou.

If I consider the ride in a vacuum, it‘s a great attraction although not without faults. But I’ll always be comparing it to Splash. For me, seeing that finale scene without hearing “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” is triggering. The music was critical to what made Splash a great attraction. And the music in this attraction just doesn’t hold a candle to Splash Mountain’s melodies even if the music is actually pretty good.

Just my thoughts and opinions. As someone who dearly misses Splash Mountain and wishes it wasn’t replaced, this ride is getting far too much nonsensical criticism.

On the bright side, if people don’t end up enjoying the attraction I think many that are critical of the decision to replace Splash, including myself, will consider this attraction a blessing in disguise because Disney won’t be tempted to replace another beloved attraction for a very long time.

 

[basas]

I agree with you but I think it's time for Bob and Bob to go into Vault Disney and never resurface. I rather an 82 year old Michael Eisner - probably even more bats*** crazy now - than either of them.

I agree. I think a lot of fans (probably myself when I was younger) don’t appreciate or understand the financial aspects of the company. Yes, Disney is built around creativity, but it’s still a business…the company needs to make money. There are investors to think about. Lots of fans moan and complain about lack of investment in the parks, but the company has to make a return on that investment…partly why I’ve been so vocal in this thread that I think this particular project was geared more towards PR and politics than anything related to ROI (more merchandise sales as some have opined). I’m probably one of the few fans with the opinion that genie+ should be more expensive. I’d operate it like the HOT lanes on a freeway, where the price for an attraction’s LL goes up and down based on real-time demand such as an attraction wait time.

I have not been impressed by Iger at all since his return. He’s failing on both the creative side and the financial side. This project is a prime example and, unfortunately, I am not very optimistic about the next few years. While a few recent films have shown some promise, the outlook for the Orlando parks until the later half of this decade looks very bleak. TBA is all Disney has to offer to compete against Epic Universe for the next few years. Yes, there have been numerous attractions opened in the last few years, but many have been underwhelming and I don’t for the life of me understand why they insist on keeping the virtual queues for Tron and Guardians…surveys must indicate people prefer them, but I don’t see it based on personal experience. As an aside, the fact that Disney built Tron (and to a lesser extent Guardians) without sufficient indoor queue space in Orlando of all places is lazy and inexcusable (did they just copy and paste from Shanghai? Seriously, who in charge felt outdoor switchbacks in the sun would be the best choice for the majority of Tron’s queue?).

 

[basas]

On the bright side, if people don’t end up enjoying the attraction I think many that are critical of the decision to replace Splash, including myself, will consider this attraction a blessing in disguise because Disney won’t be tempted to replace another beloved attraction for a very long time.

I don’t believe that for a second, unfortunately.

 

[basas]

I don't disagree with that. My point is more that he doesn't personally approve every expenditure within the parks, but this was a case where he was more involved than normal.

Clearly not, but surely he must be on board with the overall budget/concept, right? Especially with this project. Whether the poor execution is the fault of the imagineers who designed this ride or management who tied their hands…someone on the “inside” will have to answer that.

 

[Stripes]

I have not been impressed by Iger at all since his return. He’s failing on both the creative side and the finance side.

Iger has only been back for a year and a half. The films premiering this summer will be the first to have his imprint on them since he came back. (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes probably did too.)

The critical creative approvals for this project were almost certainly made by Chapek/D’Amaro.

Financially, the company is doing much, much better than when Iger came back. Any claim to the contrary is nonsense.

 

[Stripes]

I don’t believe that for a second, unfortunately.

Well, I don’t either. Because I think the typical guest will love the attraction.

 

[basas]

Iger has only been back for a year and a half. The films premiering this summer will be the first to have his imprint on them since he came back. (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes probably did too.)

Financially, the company is doing much, much better than when Iger came back. Any claim to the contrary is nonsense.

Seriously? What is nonsense? Don’t you remember Covid? I think you’re giving Iger way too much credit…

 

[basas]

Well, I don’t either. Because I think the typical guest will love the attraction.

So what? The “typical guest” loved Splash. Some report it rated highest on guest satisfaction surveys. So what exactly did $200 million get us? A downgrade?

 

[Stripes]

Seriously? What is nonsense? Don’t you remember Covid? I think you’re giving Iger way too much credit…

Chapek was fired because the company reported a terrible quarter and he was talking to investors like everything was sunshine and rainbows. He even highlighted Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on the conference call, which investors could not care less about. It was brutally embarrassing for the company to have a CEO so utterly oblivious to the company’s struggles let alone any plan to address them. And yes, Chapek navigated the Covid period which saw the company take on a lot of debt, but there were plenty of non-COVID related business decisions that Chapek made that were damaging the company.

Iger, from the moment he got back, was clear-eyed about the company’s challenges. And the financial results have drastically improved since his return.

Now, people say they want Eisner back but they forget that Eisner was giving us this crap before he left.

 

[basas]

Chapek was fired because the company reported a terrible quarter and he was talking to investors like everything was sunshine and rainbows. He even highlighted Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on the conference call, which investors could not care less about. It was brutally embarrassing for the company to have a CEO so utterly oblivious to the company’s struggles let alone any plan to address them. And yes, Chapek navigated the Covid period which saw the company take on a lot of debt, but there were plenty of non-COVID related business decisions that Chapek made that were damaging the company.

Iger, from the moment he got back, was clear-eyed about the company’s challenges. And the financial results have drastically improved since his return.

Alright, I get it. You despise Chapek and think Iger is fantastic. I’m allowed to hold a different opinion.

Chapek was literally CEO for probably the worst two years any executive could be in charge. How much of what went wrong don’t you attribute to Iger, who had been in charge for the preceding 15 years? I would argue the company underperformed the last five years of his tenure and the seeds had been planted…

 

[Midwest Elitist]

Chapek was fired because the company reported a terrible quarter and he was talking to investors like everything was sunshine and rainbows. He even highlighted Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on the conference call, which investors could not care less about. It was brutally embarrassing for the company to have a CEO so utterly oblivious to the company’s struggles let alone any plan to address them. And yes, Chapek navigated the Covid period which saw the company take on a lot of debt, but there were plenty of non-COVID related business decisions that Chapek made that were damaging the company.

Iger, from the moment he got back, was clear-eyed about the company’s challenges. And the financial results have drastically improved since his return.

?

 

[Vclguy90]

Iger has only been back for a year and a half. The films premiering this summer will be the first to have his imprint on them since he came back. (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes probably did too.)

The critical creative approvals for this project were almost certainly made by Chapek/D’Amaro.

Financially, the company is doing much, much better than when Iger came back. Any claim to the contrary is nonsense.

And who cares about how they are doing financially? I want them to actually find themselves again and pump out some hits, via film or parks. Have you seen Disney+ lately, it looks like an hogeposh of an identity crisis and trying to stay relevant.

And sure, the argument can be made that if they weren't doing things right than why are they so financially successful? I mean, I truly don't think we know how financially successful they are since all they are doing robbing Peter to pay Paul between their subsidiaries. Parks are great but film/TV is in the dumpster so let's use the parks to pay for flop after flop after flop. That has a domino effect that we all pay for in quality of experiences. But as for the parks, they are profitable because they are charging more and giving less now. They charge for EVERYTHING now to where it's all an expense and no value - and there is a huge difference between the both when it comes to patron retention. But profits don't mean satisfaction is great. I rather a poor company that spits out quality hits than a wealthy company that spits out garbage. Iger is a numbers person and more numbers to him deems success and that isn't always true and he isn't really learning from his mistakes or other's feedback as all he is focused on are the dollers rolling in. The only reason the dollars are rolling in is because it's Disney. People aren't coming back for his regime, they are coming back for the quality and the feel of the regimes that preceeded him. Kids that grew up during his regime won't know the parks that Eisner and before made magical for us. Thus they aren't coming back as adults. This is going to filter down as the years pass.

 

[Stripes]

View attachment 789149
?

 

[CAV]

I’m being more direct about it than those engaging in the sort of behaviour I’m referring to. It’s impossible to discuss properly

without breaking forum rules, so I’ll leave it there.

Suuuuuuure. Right up until the point you made that post, I had no clue who was behind the ride. Nit. One. Clue. I had to Google the names. I am sure I am not the only one. Belonging to a particular demographic does not and should not shield anyone from legitimate criticism.

 

[LittleBuford]

Suuuuuuure. Right up until the point you made that post, I had no clue who was behind the ride. Nit. One. Clue. I had to Google the names.

Then you can rest assured I wasn’t talking about you.

 

[LittleBuford]

As a Disney fan(?) you may believe that, but most guests rode Splash to cool down.

You really have no way of knowing that. It certainly wasn’t why I rode it.

 

[basas]

View attachment 789151

Very unprecedented times, given the pandemic, etc. We can argue until we’re blue in the face who deserves credit or blame for the company’s performance through the pandemic. Personally, I’m just not an Iger fan. He was good early in his tenure, but he’s been around too long.

And to bring the discussion back to the topic at hand, this project just seems to have Iger’s fingerprints all over it. But that is not based on any inside information, so if I’m wrong and someone knows better…feel free to correct me.

 

[LittleBuford]

One might also opine that’s it’s pretty hard for Splash merchandise to “fly off the shelves” when they wouldn’t stock Splash merchandise…

I’m not sure what you mean. There was a whole store devoted to Splash merchandise. I know because I bought some.

 

[basas]

I’m not sure what you mean. There was a whole store devoted to Splash merchandise. I know because I bought some.

I’m referring to post-Covid. Once they reopened, they sold out of Splash merchandise and would not stock/produce anymore.

And with the attraction’s closure there was definitely demand for it. People reportedly waited over an hour for a pressed penny on the final day of operation because that was literally the only thing that featured Splash and its characters.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I’m not sure what you mean. There was a whole store devoted to Splash merchandise. I know because I bought some.

They mean during the last few years of operation when Disney began rapidly pulling the merch from shelves. The store that sold splashdown photos was selling generic Disney merch devoid of Splash references for a while before closure, aside from the photos themselves I think (I assume they still sold those anyway, but even there i'm not 100% sure). The Briar Patch shop hasn't had Splash merch for even longer prior to closing. When I perused it back in the mid 2010s, I couldn't find a single Splash-themed item for sell. all they had there was Pooh and other generic Disney stuff.